Non-fatal limb injuries in motorbike accidents.
OBJECTIVE
To determine frequency and pattern of non-fatal limb injuries in motorbike accidents victims.


METHODS
Cross-sectional observational study.


METHODS
Study was conducted at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi, from October 2006 to March 2007.


METHODS
Trained data collectors prospectively collected data from the emergency department of JPMC, Karachi using structured pre-tested questionnaires. All motorbike accident victims presented to Emergency department with single or multiple bone injury in body extremities were included. Head injury patients who had first presented to neuro-surgery department were excluded. Motorbike accident victims with soft tissue injuries were also excluded from this study. Chisquare test was applied to find out statistical significance at 95% confidence level. P-value < 0.05 was considered as significant.


RESULTS
A total of 137 (39%) patients presented with tibial injury among the study sample of 348 patients, which was significantly higher than the bone injuries of the body part (p<0.001). Out of those, in 26% of patients, fibula was also involved along with tibia fracture. Other bone injuries included femur (16%), radius (9.2%), humerus (8.3%) and others. Radius was the commonest injured bone and in highest proportion among upper limb injuries (p<0.001). Overall, 66% of the injuries in motorbike involved lower limb fractures. The highest proportion of motorbike accidents were observed on Saturdays (31%). Majority of the accident victims were in the age group between 16 and 30 years (41% accident cases), 27% in age group 30 to 45 years, 15% in 45 to 60 years and 5% in >60 years. Those with less than 15 years accounted for 12% of cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Tibial bone is at the greatest risk in motorbike accidents probably due to its superficiality and exposed position while riding motorbike. Protective measures need to be taken for the prevention of disability associated with lower limb involvement in motorbike accidents.
Aslam
Mubashir
M
Department of Community Health Science, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. waseem.mirza@aku.edu
Taj
Tahir M
TM
Ali
Syed Arif
SA
Mirza
Waseem Akhtar
WA
Badar
Nasira
N
D000059:Accidents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001134:Arm Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015541:Off-Road Motor Vehicles; D010154:Pakistan